Friday, February 03, 2006

Chart story examines Joplin newspaper battle

This week's Chart, the newspaper published at Missouri Southern State University, features an examination of the newspaper battle in Joplin, including interviews with editors of the Joplin Globe, Joplin Daily and Joplin/Tri-State Business Journal.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Would someone from the Globe explain to me why you haven't covered the launch of Joplin Daily.com? Even though it's a competing newspaper, you still have a journalistic obligation to cover this story.

Randy said...

Hey, give them time. It took them two years to mention The Turner Report.

Anonymous said...

When are you people going to understand that "The Globe", "The Daily" and all the TV stations are businesses and not just there for the good of the public? Why in the world would the "Globe" welcome the "Daily"? When Burger King opens a new store, does McDonalds acknowledge them?
The purpose of both papers is not to inform the public, it is to generate advertising dollars. Why does the "Daily", in their masthead, list the advertising director first under the publisher?
Sure, competition should make both papers better, but its the return on investment that keeps both doors open, not breaking a news story.

Anonymous said...

It is true that the primary purpose of a newspaper is to make money, or it won't remain in business. However, journalism has a higher calling than that. If not, every paper would just become a Big Nickel, with no news content whatsoever. Newspapers must also keep the public informed. If the Globe had been doing a better job of that, Joplin Daily wouldn't have even started in the first place.

If Ed Simpson were charged with a crime, I would expect the Globe to publish a front-page story on the incident. I'm confident they would.

But why no coverage of the launch of Joplin Daily? It's an important milestone in the history of Joplin, to be sure. When was the last time a competing paper was established?

Anonymous said...

There are competing papers started every year. Most recently, there were several "arts papers" started in the Joplin area. These papers are in it for the advertising revenue and shortly after they start, they determine that they can't attract enough ad revenue because they are not delivering value to the advertisers.
Newspapers, magazines, etc. must deliver responses for their advertisors, or they will spend their dollars with mediums that deliver results.
Journalism has nothing to do with it. It is delivering what the people want to either read, see or hear that allows papers, television, networks and radio stations to remain on the air. Is the "National Enquirer" good journalism? Is 'People Magazine"? Doesn't matter - as long as revenues exceed expenses, they can remain in business.
The owners of the "Daily" saw an opportunity to harness ad revenue from different sources then they receive through the "Big Nickel". More power to them.